St. Joseph Mass League

In the wake of war and disease, the Redemptorists create a memorial fund for the ages

The St. Joseph Mass League was created in 1919 in the wake of war, death and disease. The twin catastrophes of World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918 left millions of people grieving the loss of loved ones.

Catholic churches throughout the country saw a huge spike in requests for prayers and Masses. At our Redemptorist parishes, the lists of names grew so long that many people feared their requests would not be heard for weeks or even months later.

To prevent this delay, Father Christopher D. McEnniry, C.Ss.R., the provincial superior at the time for the St. Louis Province, created the St. Joseph Mass League, a province-wide initiative that included Redemptorists at every parish in the saying of Masses and prayers for those who submitted names of loved ones, either living or deceased, to the St. Joseph Mass League.

Click here to download a St. Joseph Mass League document that you can print out and mail in.